Ahead of Thursday’s unveiling of the new timetable for the roll out of Digital Switch Over (DSO) in the remaining 31 states of the Federation, Set Top Box manufacturers have declared their readiness to meet market demand.
The country needs an estimated 24 million Set Top Boxes for the planned nationwide roll out of DSO.
MInister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai MOhammed is expected to announce dates for the roll out in the remaining 31 states today (Thursday). Six states have already been hooked on digital broadcasting under the first phase.
The country had missed out on two previous opportunities to move from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Declaring their readiness, chairman of Set Top Box Manufacturers Association, Mr. Geoffrey Ohaubunwa who is the Chairman of said the thirteen (13) licenced STB manufacturers have the capacity to provide the required boxes at the roll out.
Ohaubunwa said though there are challenges, he was however positive that the manufacturers will pull through.
He also urged the financial institutions to do more by providing additional funds.
According to him, “In terms of readiness we are very ready. For instance, Gospell which I represented has borrowed over N10 billion loans from banks which is tied down since two years and interests are running, it shows that we are ready.
“We are ready to produce the needed 24 million boxes. From my capacity, my companies have the capacity to produce 2.5 million boxes per annum ditto to other 12 companies we will meet up with the needed boxes. Besides we will also expand our capacity, immediately there is demand for the boxes.”
He added, “There are challenges and critical among them is that we need funding. The Bank of Industry is helping out, but there is the need for additional fund to be made available because it is a time-based project, so we need special funding from the CBN, just like what they are doing for the electricity meters, to be able to raise fund for the raw materials needed to manufacture the STBs.”
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: “Vincent Ikuomola” <ikuomolavincent@gmail.com>
Date: 10 Mar 2021 16:33
Subject: DSO: Manufacturers declare readiness to provide 24 million Set Top Boxes
To: “gbenga editor-” <newsroomthenation@gmail.com>, <vintagenewsroom@gmail.com>, <thenationabuja@yahoo.co.uk>, <suntolaontop@yahoo.com>, <bunmiogun04@yahoo.com>
Cc:
DSO: Manufacturers declare readiness to provide 24 million Set Top Boxes
From: Vincent IKuomola, Abuja
Ahead of Thursday’s unveiling of the new timetable for the roll out of Digital Switch Over (DSO) in the remaining 31 states of the Federation, Set Top Box manufacturers have declared their readiness to meet market demand.
The country needs an estimated 24 million Set Top Boxes for the planned nationwide roll out of DSO.
MInister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai MOhammed is expected to announce dates for the roll out in the remaining 31 states today (Thursday). Six states have already been hooked on digital broadcasting under the first phase.
The country had missed out on two previous opportunities to move from analogue to digital broadcasting.
Declaring their readiness, chairman of Set Top Box Manufacturers Association, Mr. Geoffrey Ohaubunwa who is the Chairman of said the thirteen (13) licenced STB manufacturers have the capacity to provide the required boxes at the roll out.
Ohaubunwa said though there are challenges, he was however positive that the manufacturers will pull through.
He also urged the financial institutions to do more by providing additional funds.
According to him, “In terms of readiness we are very ready. For instance, Gospell which I represented has borrowed over N10 billion loans from banks which is tied down since two years and interests are running, it shows that we are ready.
“We are ready to produce the needed 24 million boxes. From my capacity, my companies have the capacity to produce 2.5 million boxes per annum ditto to other 12 companies we will meet up with the needed boxes. Besides we will also expand our capacity, immediately there is demand for the boxes.”
He added, “There are challenges and critical among them is that we need funding. The Bank of Industry is helping out, but there is the need for additional fund to be made available because it is a time-based project, so we need special funding from the CBN, just like what they are doing for the electricity meters, to be able to raise fund for the raw materials needed to manufacture the STBs.”
